Railway-track joint.



PATENTED MAY 10, 1904.

J. G. GRBTER. RAILWAY TRACK JOINT.

APPLIOATIGN TILED OUT. 31, 1903.

N0 MODEL.

wwwaooeo Patented May 10, 1904.

PATENT OEEIcE.

JOHN G. GRETER, OF ORESTLINE, OHIO.

RAILWAY-TRACK JOINT.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 759,269, dated May 10, 1904.

Application filed October 31, 1903. Serial No. 179,304. (No model.)

To (1,7 7 whom it 7nrt7 concern.-

Beit known that 1, JOHN G. GRETER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Orcstline, in the county of Crawford, State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Railway-Track Joints; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it a ipertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to joints for railwaytrack rails; and it has for its object to provide a construction wherein the abutting ends of rails will be held securely in close relation and against displacement in all directions, a further object of the invention being to provide a construction wherein pounding at rail-joints will be reduced to a minimum.

In the drawings forming a portion of this specification, in which like numerals of reference indicate similar parts in the several views, Figure 1 is a side elevation showing the under portions of two rails secured upon a tie by means of the present invention. Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the rail-joint removed from the rail. Fig. 3 is a transverse section through a rail and the joint and including one of the securing-bolts.

Referring now to the drawings, there is shown a joint in the form of a chair comprising a base 5, from which rise the upwardly and then inwardly directed side portions 6 and 7, which are spaced apart at their upper edges a distance equal to the thickness of the web of a rail, these upper edge portions of the sides 6 and 7 having vertical inner faces which lie snugly against the web of the rail, the base flange of the rail being fitted snugly in the lower portion of the joint.

Two rails 10 and 11 have each an end ongaged in the joint and are held against longitudinal movement in either direction by means of the locking pins or bolts 12 and 13. These pins are rectangular in cross-section to correspond to the openings 14 and 15 through the rail-webs and the sides of the joint. After the bolts have been driven into place nuts may be engaged with their ends to prevent withdrawal of the bolts, these nuts, furthermore, serving to draw the bolts tighter. The bolts being tapered, they serve to draw the rails longitudinally into the joint and also hold the rails securely in place.

The base of the joint projects laterally slightly beyond the side upturned portions, and the base beyond the upturned portions is provided with the longitudinal grooves 15.

The joint is secured to the tie by means of hooks 16, which are driven into the tie, the bills of the hooks being turned inwardly over the projecting portions of the base of the joint and engage in the longitudinal grooves thereof. WVhen the rails, with the joint, are to be removed from the ties, it is necessary only to spring the bills of the hooks laterally from the longitudinal grooves, and the joint, with the rails, may be then raised from the tie.

When the ends of the rails are engaged with the joint, the entire structure is locked firmly together, and a most rigid system of rails is obtained. When the rails are to be removed from the joint, it is only necessary to remove the nuts from the bolts and then to drive the latter from the openings in which they are engaged.

l/Vhat is claimed is The combination with abutting rails, of a joint comprising a base having upwardly and inwardly directed sides embracing the base flanges and webs of the rails, taper pins engaged transversely through said side portions and the webs of the rails, the base of the joint extending laterally beyond the upwardly-directed side portions and having longitudinal grooves in their upper faces, and retaininghooks having their bills reinovably engaged in said grooves.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JOHN G. GRETER.

lVitnesses:

JOHN F. GRETER, WM. GRETER. 

